Northeast Missouri readies for 70th annual NEMO Fair

The 70th annual NEMO Fair will be held from July 17-22 at the fairgrounds.

Danielle Brown Kirksville Daily Express @danibrown_kde

Starting next week, the NEMO Fairgrounds will be filled with food, music and fun for an annual event that’s aimed at bringing the community together.

“We’re hoping we have something for anybody that comes,” NEMO Fair Board president Don Reynolds said. “Hopefully we have something for everybody that comes.”

The 70th annual NEMO Fair will be held from July 17-22 at the fairgrounds. The annual fair serves as an opportunity to bring the community together for a good time, Reynolds said.

“It’s something good for the community and it’s also a great chance for our young people to get to show what they’ve been working on for the past year,” Reynolds said.

From July 18-21, the fair will feature livestock shows, where local children showcase their livestock and present various projects.

“We feel like (children are) a part of our community and they’re going to grow up and become what we are,” Reynolds said. “(The fair) gives them a chance to go in and prove their life skills (and) their farming skills.”

Music lovers will have the opportunity to see several acts during the week of the fair.

Diamond Rio will perform at 8 p.m. on July 17; The Highwaymen Live will perform at 8 p.m. on July 18; and Jason Michael Carroll, Mark Wills and Darryl Worley will perform at 8 p.m. on July 19. NEMO Idol will also be held from 6 to 7 p.m. July 17-21, with the finals taking place at 3 p.m. on July 22.

Reynolds also said the Lowery Carnival will be operating daily during the fair. Admission into the carnival is included with the purchase of a fair ticket.

“A lot of fairs you have to pay extra for the carnival. Ours, that’s included in your ticket, whether you do the weeklong pass or the day pass, the rides are included in that,” Reynolds said. “We feel like we have a tremendous bargain out there.”

Other features include a horse shoe pitching tournament on July 19, 20 and 22; the Bull Ride at 8 p.m. on July 20; the Iowa-Missouri Truck & Tractor Pullers at 7 p.m. on July 21; and the Demolition Derby at 7 pm. on July 22.

Outside of the carnival, Reynolds said there are plenty of games and competitions for children to enjoy daily.

“We’d like to see everybody there,” Reynolds said. “We try to make (the fair) successful but the only way we can make it successful is if the people come, and we’d like to see them come. That’s why we do it, to see the people there.”

For ticket prices or more information about the NEMO Fair, visit nemofair.net or call (660) 665-8800.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.